Locking means for cases, containers, and the like



June 7, 1949. a. LEVINSON 2,472,486

LOCKING MEANS FOR CASES, CONTAINERS AND THE LIKE Filed May 9, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I5 7 ///J\ 9 W \\2\\\\\\\\\\ x\\\\\\\\\ 6 8 20 N n L .5-

IN VEN TOR:

E'EURBE LE V/NS'UN ATTDRNE) June 7, 1949. G. LEVINSON 2,472,486

LOCKING MEANS FOR CASES, CONTAINERS AND THE LIKE Filed May 9, 1945 2v Sheets-Sheet 2 Mag nvmvron; BEURE'E LEVINSUN WW m;

A TTURNE) Patented June 7, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOCKING MEANS FOR CASES, CONTAINERS, AND THE LIKE George Levinson, New York, N. Y.

Application May 9,1945, Serial No. 592,873

Claims. 1

My invention relates to cases, boxes or similar containers and, more particularly, to interlocking parts of containers.

Objects of my invention are to provide a container with means releasably securing the cover of the container to its main body which means can be brought into interlocking position by one simple movement and can be withdrawn from the interlocking position by one simple movement, and to provide a sliding bar adapted to engage the cover and the body of the container simultaneously and, thereby, to prevent separation of the cover and the body.

Other objects are interlocking means of this kind which consist of a minimum of parts, which can be easily and inexpensively made, which do not require the use of metal and which can be made of wood or any other suitable material.

Further objects are interlocking means of this kind which can be operated quickly, which are prevented from dislocation due to unintentional or incidental causes by frictional engagement, which withstand large forces tending to separate the cover from the body, and which prevent the cover from being pried open at any spot of the closing rim.

Still other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of an exemplifying embodiment of the invention and of modifications of the same, from the appended claims, and from the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a, perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of my invention, the interlocking bar being shown in a partly Withdrawn position.

Fig. 2 shows a horizontal cross-section of the same embodiment in the same condition, said cross-section being taken along the line 2'-2 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 shows a vertical cross-section of the same embodiment, taken in the direction of the arrows 3 in Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 to '7 show vertical cross-sections of four diiferent modifications of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, each of the Figs. 4 to '7 showing a broken off part of a cross-section corresponding to the cross-section shown in Fig. 8 and containing the modified detail of the embodiment.

Figs. 4 to 7 are represented on a larger scale than Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Referring to the drawings, numeral 4 indicates the hollow main body of a -case which is permanently closed at all sides, except at the upper body 4 surrounding the opening of the body. These contacting surfaces may be arranged at two levels forming a step. For example, the cover 5 may have a rim 1 projecting down into a corresponding recess of the upper rim of the body 4 whereby the adjacent margins of the cover and the body form a step comprising a higher and a lower horizontal surface.

A ledge 8 forms an integral part of the body 4 or is affixed to the body in any suitable manner, and a ledge 9 is similarly connected to the cover 5. The longitudinal extensions of the ledges 8 and 9 are substantially horizontally directed. The ledges are so positioned that, in closed position of the cover, the upper surface of the ledge 8 is adjacent to the lower surface of the ledge 9. Preferably, the upper surface of the ledge 9 flushes with the upper surface of the cover 5, and the ledges are positioned at that side of the case which is opposite to the side provided with the hinge joints 6.

The two ledges are adapted for simultaneous engagement by a sliding bar which contacts a surface of the lower ledge from the lower side and a surface of the upper ledge from the upper side whereby the two ledges and, consequently, the body 4 and the cover 5 are clamped or held together. These surfaces, called clamped surfaces in the following, extend parallel to each other in the horizontal, longitudinal direction of the ledges. The contacting surfaces of the bar are correspondingly positioned parallel to each other whereby the bar can be moved sliding along these surfaces. The cross-sections of the ledges and the corresponding cross-section of the sliding bar may have any suitable shape providing for such clamped surfaces.

For example, the bar Ill has a C-shaped crosssection fitting a space surrounded by the ledges 8 and 9 and the adjoining parts of the side walls of the body 4 and of the cover 5. Inwardly directed projections H and I! of the ledges entering the inner space of this C-shaped crosssection have'clamped surfaces at l3 and I4.

Preferably. the clamped surfaces l3 and I4 are about as long as the parallel side of the opening of the body 4, and the insertable length of the bar I!) has the same extension. The space in which the bar ll) slides is closed at one side by a wall consisting of a full or solid part I 5 of the ledge 8 and a similar part [6 of the ledge 9. The part [5 may be additionally afiixed or integrally connected to a ledge l'l positioned at the same level as the ledge 8 and at a right angle thereto along a side of the body 4. The part I6 may be similarly connected to a ledge l8 forming an integral part of the cover 5. The body 4 may have another overhanging ledge l9 similar to the ledge l'l, positioned at the opposite side of the body and shorter than the ledge l1 whereby a rectangular recess 20 is formed at the open end of the ledge 8. The cover 5 may have a ledge 2| corresponding to the ledge l9 and ending before the vertical continuation of the recess 20.

The outer end of the bar I is aifixed to a handle or block 22 which preferably fits the recess 29. In fully inserted position, thehandle 22 completes the rectangle formed by the cover 5 and the adjacent ledges and can be gripped from the upper and from the lower side.

Each of the Figs. 4 to 7 shows. a cross-section.

of ledges being modifications of'the ledges 8 and 9 and of a sliding bar being a correspondingmodification of the bay ID. All other details of the modified embodiments may be identical to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

In Fig. 4, the sliding bar 23 has an I-shaped cros'ssection fitting corresponding grooves of the ledges 24 and 25 which have clamped surfaces at 26 andZ'l.

In Fig. 5, the sliding bar 28 has dovetailed projections 29 and 39 fitting corresponding grooves of ledges SI and 32 and slidably contacting clamped surfaces 33 and 34.

Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 5 insofar as the sliding bar 55 slides within the ledges 56 and 5'1. The bar 55 has projections of circular cross-sections. The clamped surfaces 58 and 59 are round.

In Fig. 7, the bar 69 sliding in a space formed by grooves of the ledges GI and 52 has two parallel vertical sides and grooves at the upper and lower side fitting circularly or cylindrically cuived projections of the ledges 6| and 52. Clamped surfaces 63 and 64 are formed by the undercut portions of these projections.

I desire it' understood that my invention is. not confined to the particular embodiment and. its modifications shown and described; the same being merely illustrative, and that the invention may be carried out in-other ways Without departing from the spirit of my invention as it is obvious that the modifications shown and described are only a few of the many that may be employed to attain the objects of my invention.

While I have describedinterlocking means positioned along one side of the case, similar interlocking means-may be positioned at two opposite sides of the case whereby hinges are dispensed with. It will-also be understoodthat the top and bottom of a case may be provided with my improved interlocking means whereby the case will be collapsible by simply removing the locking pins or bars.

Having described the nature of my. invention, what I claim and. desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1-. A container comprising a. hollow body with an open side, a cover adapted for closing and openin said body, said body and saidcover contacting each other in closed position with surfaces positioned in a plane parallel to said. open side, said surfaces having grooves extending from the same line of contact in a direction perpendicular to said plane, said grooves. having inner extensions directed angularly to said perpendicular direction, and a bar slidably fitting said grooves and their extensions and passing through said contacting surfaces in a direction perpendicular to said plane.

. 2. A container comprising a hollow body with an open side, a cover adapted for closing and opening-said body, said body and said cover con.-

tacting each other in closed position with surfaces positioned in a plane parallel to said open side, said surfaces having grooves extending from the same line of contact. in a direction perpendicular to said plane, said grooves having inner extensions of rectangular cross-sections directed angularly to said perpendicular direction, and a bar slidably fitting said grooves and their extensions and passing through said contacting surfaces in a direction perpendicular to said plane.

3. A container comprising a hollow body with an open side, a cover adapted for closing and opening said body, said body and said cover contacting each other in closed position with surfaces positioned in a plane parallel to said open side, said surfaces having grooves extending from the same line of contact in a direction perpendicular to said plane, said grooves having inner extensions of dove-tailed cross-sections directed angularly to said perpendicular direction, and a bar slidably fitting said grooves and their extensions and passing through said contacting surfaces in a direction perpendicular to said plane.

4. A container comprising a hollow body with an open side, a cover adapted for closing and opening said body, said body and said cover contacting each other in closed position with surfaces positioned in a plane parallel to said open side, said surfaces having grooves extending from the same line of contact in a direction perpendicular to said plane, said grooves having inner extensions of rounded cross-sections directed angularly to said perpendicular direction, and a bar slidably fitting said grooves and their extensions and passing through said contacting surfaces-in a direction perpendicular to said plane.

5. A container comprising a hollow body with an open side, a cover adapted for closing and opening said body, said body and said cover contacting each other in closed position with surfaces positioned in a plane parallel to said open side and having a recess at a corner of said surfaces, said surfaces having grooves extending from the same line of contact in a direction perpendicular to said plane, said grooves running longitudinally from one closed end to an open end abutting said recess and having inner extensions directed angularly to said perpendicular direction, a bar slidably fitting said grooves and their extensions and passing through said contacting surfaces in a direction perpendicular to said plane, and a handle afiixed to said bar and having the same shape and size as said recess.

GEORGE LEVINSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 571,790 Pitiot Nov. 24, 1896 847,598 Overgaard Mar. 19, 1907 1,401,236 Brandt Dec. 27,1921 1,614,737 Kobbe Jan. 18, 1927 1,805,795 Zeindlhofer May 19, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 438,441 France Mar. 18, 1912 624,825 Germany Jan. 29, 1936 674,854 France Oct. 28, 1929 

